LDB5-1955-001B Die Break

Description

Presenting a remarkable three-stage die progression on a single obverse die, LDB5-1955-001B documents the cumulative deterioration of a 1955 Philadelphia Lincoln wheat cent die through three distinct phases of cracking and chipping. Stage 1, cross-referenced as Cohen 55-B1004, shows the initial damage: a die crack joining the letters E and R in LIBERTY and another die crack at the top of Lincoln's head, plus a die chip in the T of CENT on the reverse. Stage 2, corresponding to Cohen 55-B1005, records the development of a second die crack on the forehead, indicating that the die's structural integrity continued to degrade between the first and second stages. Stage 3, aligned with Cohen 55-B1009, shows the second die crack at the top of the head extending outward into the field, demonstrating full propagation of the fracture beyond the design elements and into open die surface. The Hardy cross-reference is 55P-5SBL+1, with the classification 5SBL+ placing this within the Hardy taxonomy as a specific break configuration. The listing date of 06/13/2016 records when this three-stage progression was formally documented by Cuds on Coins. Philadelphia struck 330.9 million wheat cents in 1955, the penultimate year before the double-dated 1955/1955 doubled die obverse would thrust that date into numismatic immortality. LDB5-1955-001B is significant within the die break community because documented multi-stage progressions are relatively uncommon -- most cud and die break listings represent single snapshots of die condition rather than traceable evolutionary sequences. Having three Cohen cross-references confirms that each stage was independently documented, providing a comprehensive forensic record of how one die deteriorated under production stress.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Earl M
• Cross references: Cohen 55-B1005, Hardy 55P-5SBL+1. 06/13/2016.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References